Saudi Arabia reported that its air defenses successfully shot down a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday evening, according to a coalition spokesman. The incident prompted strong condemnation from multiple parties, with the spokesman characterizing the alleged attack on Islam’s holiest city as a disgraceful act. The 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation issued a statement calling any strikes against Mecca and Medina an unacceptable transgression.
The Houthis, an Iran-backed armed group controlling significant portions of western Yemen, rejected Saudi claims of targeting the holy city. A Houthi military spokesperson stated the group’s operations focus exclusively on Saudi oil infrastructure and military installations, maintaining they pose no danger to Islamic sacred sites. The spokesman asserted that recent drone and missile launches constituted retaliation for more than 450 Saudi air strikes conducted against Houthi territory over the preceding week. He also claimed the group had destroyed a Saudi fighter jet over Marib province.
The escalation reflects broader tensions in the Red Sea region following the Houthis’ recent territorial gains. The group seized control of the strategic port city of Mokha and Perim Island last week, bolstering their position in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical passageway for international maritime commerce. The Houthis announced a maritime embargo targeting Saudi Arabia and have intensified attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure and shipping vessels. Saudi Arabia’s key East-West Pipeline, damaged in what officials attributed to Iran-backed militias, remains offline pending repairs.
The situation prompted international diplomatic activity, with the United Nations Security Council convening an emergency session. Council members emphasized the necessity of maintaining freedom of navigation through the Red Sea to protect global supply chains. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has privately urged US President Donald Trump to authorize military intervention against the Houthis, though the Trump administration has offered intelligence and targeting support rather than direct military engagement. The conflict has created a severe humanitarian crisis in Yemen, with over 90,000 recently displaced and hundreds killed in recent weeks.
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